India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
